Brown M&Ms, or Why No One Reads the Manual • Hacker News Board

Re: Brown M&Ms, or Why No One Reads the Manual

#31

Post by wheelerwj » Thu, Jul 30, 2020, 9:14 AM UTC

DoubleGlazing wrote: post #30

A few years ago I left the company I was was working for. We had an internal doc wiki that hardly anyone used. I was one of the ones who did and I would document code changes and things like how to setup a dev environment and to list known gotchas. During my final week when I was doing code handover I sent an email around the company pointing out that the wiki would answer most of the questions they might have about…

> after a bit of an ear bashing

you actually helped them? Hang up, charge your emergency hour consultant rates, and tell them you're available once they sign the agreement.

Re: Brown M&Ms, or Why No One Reads the Manual

#32

Post by greatpatton » Thu, Jul 30, 2020, 9:23 AM UTC

This is quite strange, having organized a large music festival this kind of document were split among different teams. Meaning that people in charge of the backstage are managing their part (getting food, M&Ms, specific brand of beer, and other non nonsensical request, etc) and the people in charge of the stage and technical stuff are taking care of technical requirements (and aligning them between different bands sharing the same stage). So if someone from the backstage team messed up the M&Ms, it will bring absolutely no information about how the situation was handled by the guys in charge of the stage... So this canary will be quite ineffective in reality

Re: Brown M&Ms, or Why No One Reads the Manual

#33

Post by DoubleGlazing » Thu, Jul 30, 2020, 9:29 AM UTC

wheelerwj wrote: post #31

DoubleGlazing wrote: post #30

A few years ago I left the company I was was working for. We had an internal doc wiki that hardly anyone used. I was one of the ones who did and I would document code changes and things like how to setup a dev environment and to list known gotchas. During my final week when I was doing code handover I sent an email around the company pointing out that the wiki would answer most of the questions they might have about…

> after a bit of an ear bashing you actually helped them? Hang up, charge your emergency hour consultant rates, and tell them you're available once they sign the agreement.

That's what my wife told me as soon as I got home. If it ever happens again that's what I'll do.

Re: Brown M&Ms, or Why No One Reads the Manual

#34

Post by lmm » Thu, Jul 30, 2020, 9:29 AM UTC

barbegal wrote: post #6

> If any brown M&Ms were found backstage, the band could cancel the entire concert at the full expense of the promoter. I really don't think this would stand up in court. Does anyone know of any concerts cancelled due to minor issues with the rider?

It probably wouldn't, but what promoter would take the risk? So it serves its purpose.

Re: Brown M&Ms, or Why No One Reads the Manual

#35

Post by jedberg » Thu, Jul 30, 2020, 9:33 AM UTC

wheelerwj wrote: post #31

DoubleGlazing wrote: post #30

A few years ago I left the company I was was working for. We had an internal doc wiki that hardly anyone used. I was one of the ones who did and I would document code changes and things like how to setup a dev environment and to list known gotchas. During my final week when I was doing code handover I sent an email around the company pointing out that the wiki would answer most of the questions they might have about…

> after a bit of an ear bashing you actually helped them? Hang up, charge your emergency hour consultant rates, and tell them you're available once they sign the agreement.

I would help. The people who are suffering the most are your former coworkers. Presumably friends. Definitely people you may work with in the future.

I'd rather be known as the guy who helps than the guy who is rude about consulting rates.

Re: Brown M&Ms, or Why No One Reads the Manual

#36

Post by WrtCdEvrydy » Thu, Jul 30, 2020, 9:35 AM UTC

DoubleGlazing wrote: post #33

wheelerwj wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> after a bit of an ear bashing you actually helped them? Hang up, charge your emergency hour consultant rates, and tell them you're available once they sign the agreement.

That's what my wife told me as soon as I got home. If it ever happens again that's what I'll do.

I've actually done worse to a bad employer...

I picked up the phone, said my name, and as soon as they dropped that, I said "Oh, he's dead" and hung up. My former boss sent me a text later going "Very mature, but very funny"

Edit: Boss was the only one who had his head on straight

Re: Brown M&Ms, or Why No One Reads the Manual

#37

Post by turbinerneiter » Thu, Jul 30, 2020, 9:37 AM UTC

I write documentation for myself, because my brain is broken and I can't remember anything. Also big Polaroid fan.

Re: Brown M&Ms, or Why No One Reads the Manual

#38

Post by kozak » Thu, Jul 30, 2020, 9:38 AM UTC

dontdieych wrote: post #5

I'm cable guy. If you are working on data center, there is chance we already met. I've crimped so many RJ45. Can't count. Before CAT6 it was simple. After CAT6, all vendors starting produce their own. This is my best manual all time. I love Penduit manual. http://www1.panduit.com/heiler/InstallInstructions/N-COPN295...

And for all the perfectionists out there, this perfect manual has a typo in figure 9 at page 2.

Re: Brown M&Ms, or Why No One Reads the Manual

#39

Post by DoubleGlazing » Thu, Jul 30, 2020, 9:39 AM UTC

jedberg wrote: post #35

wheelerwj wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> after a bit of an ear bashing you actually helped them? Hang up, charge your emergency hour consultant rates, and tell them you're available once they sign the agreement.

I would help. The people who are suffering the most are your former coworkers. Presumably friends. Definitely people you may work with in the future. I'd rather be known as the guy who helps than the guy who is rude about consulting rates.

That would cross my mind. Most potential employers I've encountered have usually asked for references from my last two jobs. On another occasion I had to undergo a background check which involved contacting my last 15 years worth of employers. So no matter how much I may have disliked an employer I would be unwilling to burn bridges until I knew I would never need to rely on them again.

Re: Brown M&Ms, or Why No One Reads the Manual

#40

Post by kozak » Thu, Jul 30, 2020, 9:49 AM UTC

wcfields wrote: post #12

barbegal wrote: post #6

> If any brown M&Ms were found backstage, the band could cancel the entire concert at the full expense of the promoter. I really don't think this would stand up in court. Does anyone know of any concerts cancelled due to minor issues with the rider?

Tl;dr from my memory. Numbers are estimates. Van Halen, at the time, were doing the largest stadium stage show ever. Most tours were 2 semi-trucks of speakers and lighting, VH were ~10+. Due to the never before done scale of the show rigging weight limits are critical. Not following it could lead to a stage collapse. VH put the brown M&M’s in the middle of the weight requirement rider. This way the production crew co…

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